Q Continuum Realm
shared by the Q entities (TNG: "Déjà Q", VOY: "Death Wish", "The Q and
the Grey").The Voyager episodes show the Q Continuum, or more precisely, a
simplified representation of it. It could be a parallel space or
time or anything else.

Quad (unit)
Unit for the measurement of the amount of computer
data, usually expressed in the multiples of 1000 (kiloquad), 1
million (megaquad), 1 billion (gigaquad) and occasionally even higher (generic).Since the storage capacity and computing speed of 21st century computers is (still) exponentially increasing, the TNG episodes
would have become ridiculous after a few years if computer data
aboard the Enterprise had been measured in bytes. In this respect
it was a wise decision to introduce quads instead and to veil the
conversion factor from bytes to quads. Unfortunately, the Voyager authors could
not resist to gradually increase the available capacities to absurd teraquads (see
Computers &
Communication).

Quadrant
Galactic subdivision, comprising one quarter of the Milky Way Galaxy. In
counter-clockwise direction, the quadrants are named Alpha, Beta, Delta and
Gamma Quadrant. Most of the Federation is located in the Alpha Quadrant (generic).The concept of quadrants was introduced in TNG: "The Price". All
earlier references used "quadrant" in much the same meaning as
"sector". The naming of the quadrants from Alpha to Delta does not
comply with scientific nomenclature, which would use a rotational sequence
(clock- or counter-clockwise).

Quantum discriminator
31st century temporal communicators require a
quantum discriminator to work (ENT: "Shockwave, Part II").Daniels said that there would be such a device on every school desk in his
century. If this is really a device specifically designed for use in temporal
communicators, the laws of the time regarding temporal issues must be very lax.

Quantum phase inhibitor
Device capable of halting a star's nuclear reaction. Particularly, the Tox
Uthat developed by Kal Dano in the 27th century (TNG: "Captain's
Holiday").

Quantum singularity Also referred to
as black
hole. Romulan warbirds employ an artificial quantum singularity as their power source, and the Hirogen communications
network too (TNG: "Timescape", DS9: "Visionary", VOY:
"Hunters").At the first glance a black hole could be supposed to accumulate energy,
never ever emitting anything of it. Stephen Hawking, however,
postulated that black holes do actually emit radiation, or shrink
in terms of mass. This strange behavior is a consequence of the
quantum uncertainty. According to quantum mechanics, it is in no
way prohibited that a particle/antiparticle pair is generated
from nothing, as long as their lifetime is so short that it is
not noticed. If this happens at the event horizon, one particle might fall into the black hole,
whereas the other could escape. In this case it would seem as if
the black hole does emit radiation, and the Romulans obviously
take advantage of this effect.

Quantum slipstream drive Propulsion technology
exceeding the capabilities of conventional warp drive (VOY: "Hope and
Fear", "Timeless", "Think Tank").The quantum slipstream drive was introduced in VOY: "Hope
and Fear" as the propulsion system of the fake Federation
ship USS Dauntless and implemented on Voyager in "Timeless". According to Seven of Nine, the technology
is akin to Borg transwarp (TNG: "Descent"). In this
case a kind of space fold would be created to bridge large
distances similar to a wormhole. A satisfactory theory is
missing, and the shown effects are contradictory. While it was
possible to change course like with a normal warp drive in
"Hope and Fear", the Delta Flyer remained in slipstream
in "Timeless" without being equipped with such a drive. Moreover, in
both episodes the impression was created that a simple modification to the power
system would suffice.

Quantum stasis field
Device of Romulan origin designed to block the shapeshifting abilities of the
Founders, forcing them to remain in their solid form. Extended exposure to the
field causes the Founder to lose molecular cohesion (DS9: "The Die is
Cast").

Quantum torpedo Further
development of a photon
torpedo with an enhanced explosive force (DS9, "Star Trek: First
Contact", "Star Trek Nemesis").The quantum torpedoes are discussed in the DS9 Technical Manual, however, their principle is hard to understand,
because an 11-dimensional quantum membrane and quantum
uncertainty (similar to Hawking's theory) are involved. Anyway,
the device consists of two stages, a "conventional"
matter/antimatter booster that initializes a quantum warhead.

Quarantine seal
Forcefield to isolate contagious specimens in a lab or patients in special
sickbay ward (TNG: "Home Soil", "Brothers").

Quarantine warning
Routine that can be activated on a quarantined starship. It includes red
flashing lights on the hull and a frequently replaced warning message not to
board the vessel (TNG: "Unnatural Selection").